§ Sir H. Williamsasked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for all Regulations made under the authority of Orders in Council to be laid on the Table of the House for the information of Members, 320W and for copies to be made available in the Vote Office?
§ Mr. AttleeMy hon. Friend's suggestion would cover a great variety of Regulations made under the authority not only of Defence Regulations but of many Orders in Council for which provision is made in Acts of Parliament ranging over a number of subjects. The general principle adopted in legislation in recent years has been to require all Orders which are subject to annulment to be laid before the House. If some different principle were to be adopted much labour and research would be required for the purpose of classifying the numerous instruments issued under rule-making and order-making powers conferred by Parliament on Ministers, and deciding which of them ought to be laid before the House. It would be difficult to undertake such work at the present time but if my hon. Friend would say which particular Regulation or types of Regulations he has in mind I should be glad to consider the matter further.